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Marker Mandalas (4th)

In previous years I created mandala prints with my 4th graders to teach them about radial symmetry, but this year I wanted to try having them draw them (for their Square 1 Art project). So to begin this lesson I showed students the following video clip to give them some background on what a mandala is (we watch to 2:20).

After watching the first video clip I switch to the following video which shows Tibetan monks creating a sand mandala (something that was referred to in the first video). We watch the first few minutes.. then I fast forward through some of the middle part and we eventually end with the monks sweeping up their artwork and bringing it out to a body of water to dump it.

My students LOVE this video! The fact that the artwork is created by slowly pouring sand BLOWS. THEM. AWAY.

But the biggest reaction I get is when the monks start sweeping up their artwork - "NOOOOO! WHAT ARE THEY DOING?!?!"

Next I quickly show my students a PowerPoint showing the differences between linear symmetry and radial symmetry. Once that is done I demo how we are going to create our own mandalas (sorry guys - not with sand).

To better explain the process I created this visual:

Feel free to pin away! :)

Once students were done drawing their pencil lines, I had them trace over their lines with sharpie. Then they used markers to color them in.

*I typically do not use markers.. but it works well for Square 1 Art.

Their results are beautiful!

I absolutely love mandalas!
So much that I currently have 2 mandala tattoos! One on my side (stilllllll under construction) and a brand new one on my forearm!

5 comments

Did you have any kiddos laughing at the sounds they were making during the sand one? I have REALLY immature group of 3rd graders (whose focus is world cultures) and this video is great! I know even with a discussion about respect of other cultures before hand I will still have immature kids laugh or make comments or mimic. Anything come up like that for you?